Man in wheelchair struck and killed by truck

A firefighter examines the wheelchair used by a man who was struck and killed by a truck in southeast Edmonton Thursday. ((CBC))

A man in a wheelchair was struck and killed by a truck in Mill Woods Thursday morning.

The man was crossing at the intersection in a marked crosswalk at 80th Street and Mill Woods Road South around 7:20 a.m. when he was hit by a Ford pick-up truck, police said.

"The crash obviously propelled the wheelchair down the road," said Sgt. Brad Manz. "The individual who was in the wheelchair is a 58-year-old male who is a resident of the area."

The man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The man was within the marked crosswalk when he was struck, but the warning lights were apparently not activated at the time, Manz said.

Employees at the 7-11 store across the road said the man had just been in the store to say hello like he did every morning. Neighbours said he was well-known in the community.

"He was a great guy. He was always joking," said Chrystal Dalke, who had known the man since she first moved to the area three years ago.

"I can't even stand to look at that scene. It's just horrible."

"It's very sad because I just saw him a few days ago. I was taking the bus, too," said another neighbour, Jade Martel. "My son was just going up to him, he had that smile on his face. Just seeing his wheelchair all fumbled up like that, it's really sad."

Police opened the intersection to traffic after being closed for about five hours to allow them to conduct their investigation.